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I had just finishedto shove , when I heard, "Jocelyn?"

My head snapped up andwhere it beat so hard it unhooked itself from my chest and took a swan dive into the pit ofbeforeblonde She earing a pencil-skirt and Victorian-style suit jacket, sexy stiletto heels, her long blonde hair was perfectly tousled, and her make-up was as flawless as her face

Was she for real?

I hated her instantly

"Braden," Ianywhere and everywhere to avoid his gaze

I shouldmy jeans with the worn out knee, a ratty t-shirt that advertised a famous beer, and my hair was in its usual knot on my head I wore no makeup

I looked like hell

I’d really made his choice easy huh

"I text you," he said in an annoyingly stern tone

My eyes flew to his at that "I know"

His jaw clenched

Isla cleared her throat politely and he tried to relax, although his penetrating gaze didn’t leave mine as he said, "Isla, this is Jocelyn Jocelyn, this is Isla, the newskills I smiled politely and held out my hand for her to shake She smiled back at fully

Braden’s whole body froze at that and I sent hie--yeah I know all about her, asshole

Isla turned to Braden with an attractive and exceptionally flirtatious tilt to herpeople aboutive us a moment please?"

Uh oh

And then tone

SHOT THROUGH THE HEART, AND YOU’RE TOO BLAME, YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME

Yeah, I hadn’t been feeling subtle that day

Braden raised an eyebrow at it, a stupidly a his lips as I pulled my cell out Rhian Thank God "I have to take this I’ll catch you later"

His slare "Joc-"

"Rhian," I answered with affected cheer, giving Isla a little wave goodbye, one she returned obliviously

Rhian snorted "You sound wired"

I hurried past the pubs heading for Candlee and Forrest Road "I didn’t give you a good enough Christmas present, do you know that"

"Uh, why?"

"Because you just savedas a thank you"

"Ooh, chocolate please"

"Done"

I let her talk tofor tenache inI went home, curled up with the unwashed bedsheet that sot up the courage to put it in the wash

~25~

Perhaps I was still feeling guilty about flaking out on Ellie that first night, so I went a little overboard on getting the apartment ready for her return It was clean from top to bottom, but I’d held back my own inclination to ‘tidy’ and left her clutter out since I knew it reen luxury bed set online because she loved green, I bought a few decorative cushions, and ht a breakfast-in-bed table that rolled up to the side of the bed and swung over so she could eat in bed I bought flowers Chocolate I packed the fridge with her favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice creaazine I’d ever seen her reading on her bedside cabinet A couple of Sudoku and crossword books And the ant… a small flatscreen television with a built in DVD player It was probably a little much for a patient as only supposed to be on bed rest for teeks but I didn’t want her to get bored

"Oh my God" Ellie’s eyes widened as she walked into her roo with her arm wrapped around Adam’s waist, and Elodie, Clark and Braden were already in the roo The kids were back at school so they’dtovery uncohed and came over to me slowly "You’re a little bit awesome"

I huffed "If you say so"

"Coed her, like always feeling like a little girl hugging her mother because she was so tall "I love it, thank you"

"I’ently eased her back and frowned "Lie down"